The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-04-28
A STORY OF GRANT.
The Acts Of Considerable Kindness That Endeare
Him 20 His Soldiers.

Him 10 His Soldiers.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In a recent
issue i read the account of the interview be-
tween Gen. Grant and Private Lash. 1t brought
wildly to my mind an interview / had with
Gen. Grant in March, 1862. By the bye, met
Gen. Grant for the first time in this city in
August, 1851. i have in my possession two
orders he issued TO me. One bears date Aug.
% and the other Aug. %, 1861. value them
very highly, because they are in his own writing.
In March, 1862, the regiment to which /
belonged, then known rs the Curtis Horse, was
stationed near Fort Henry Tenn. The first
battalion had gone Off on an expedition, and
had fight with the rebels near Paris, Tenn.
News had reached us about the fight, and some
OF the wounded were at the landing. mounted
my horse and rode TO the landing to see who
of my friends were there. j went on board a
little messenger boat, and saw Mr.. Richardson.
do not remember what his rank was, whether
private or q non-commisSiOned officer. He
told me he was shot through the thigh and the
bone broken, and he was being sent to Mound
City. H. He added that he wished his wife
could go with him. / asked where his wife
was, and he replied that she was the hospital
matrOn Of our regiment. This was news to me.
spoke TO the Captain of the messenger boat,
and asked him when he was going to leave.
He replied, Right away" then asked him
j he could not wait half an hour until could
said he could wait for nothing i told him
would see about that His little craft was fas-
tened TO the Tigress, at that time occupied rs
Gen. Grants headquarters
j went up into the cabin Of the Tigress and
related my interview with Richardson and the
pompons Captain of the little boat. When /
finished Gen. Grant asked me how long it
would take me TO get Mrs. Richardson on board.
i told him thought / could have her on board
in half an hour. He told me to tell Skinner
TO hold on until Mrs. Richardson comes" in
formed him of what Gen Grant had said and
assumed TO order him moi to leave until l re-
turned.
i mounted my horse and galloped of to my
quarters and ordered the ambulancc driver, who
belonged TO my company, to harness up rs soon
as possible and drive up to the hospital tent. 1
rode on up to that tent and called for Mrs.
Richardson. A goOd-looking woman came TO
the door of the tent in answer to my call. l
told her her husband was at the river, wounded,
and on the way 10 Mound City; that he wanted
her 10 go with him, and added that an ambu-
lance would be there for her in less than 10 min
utes and she should be ready, as time was
limited. On my return 10 my company the
driver was in his seat and drove rapidly to the
hospital tent.
Mrs. Richardson was ready, the only time in
all my life in which / ever knew one of the
sisters to get ready for long journey IN so
short n time. Before the half hour expired
Mrs. Richardson and her two trunks were
aboard the messenger boat reported TO Gen.
Grant my success. Now" said he, "you can
tell Skinner to cast of aud CO." walked out
on the guard of the Tigress, and id no very
nice words told Skinner to east off.
If this should fall under the eye of Richard
son or any of his friends, would like to have
him or them send mes postal card giving me his
postofice address, ifliving. 1t was just such acts
as this aud that told by Private Lash and many
Others of the kind, that endeared Gen. Grant
TO those under his command. There was no
difficulty in approaching him. l never knew
him TO snub any one. He knew his soldiers
were men with the feelings and aspirations of
men, and he treated them Is they Deserved
j. II. KIDD, Captain, 55th Iowa, Jefferson City,
Mo